They're back! The first round of Forums for 2012 are only a few weeks away. Spaces are limited so book now so you don't miss out.

For those who've never been to a Postcard Radio Forum, where have you been?! The aim of the Forums is to provide a space to have a topic presented and then have dialogue, all with fine coffee and cakes. There's no cost to come along so you'd be mad to miss it.

See you there!

Pete Mc

We live in a society of “individuals”. This is why we have trouble forming healthy community. This is why consumerism is so rampant. Ultimately, this is also why Christians are so ineffective in the western world. We have a gospel for the individual that promises individual salvation and we expect every individual to use their own gifts in a church full of individuals. Inevitably this leads to conflict, division and separation. The message of the Kingdom of God is an absolute challenge to this philosophy. The Kingdom is not a like-minded group of individuals but a community of those who follow a crucified Christ.

Kingdom people “become all things to all people” and “the servant of others”. Kingdom people are not absorbed by what God is doing in their lives, but what God is doing in the world, and, in particular, in the lives of others who are not yet in the kingdom. Kingdom people do not seek conflict, even with their enemies, and they do not separate from others because of theology or practice. Instead, they reflect Jesus who was accused of spending time with sinners and who welcomed the unlikeable and unacceptable of society into His kingdom – a realm and lifestyle where love, forgiveness, kindness, patience, and unselfishness are the values seen in kingdom people. We should all pray “thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

Randy Edwards

It's always an interesting experience when someone who's not normally a spokesperson for faith clearly articulates a core faith principle. The main feeling is a sense of joy that someone, anyone, has nailed it (there's also a sense of shame that it wasn't a spokesperson for faith). This time it's the comedian Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Nation. I've always believed that an important role for comedians is pointing out when the Emperor has no clothes on, e.g. the Chaser boys are at their best when they do so, here's a great example.

Pete Mc

(The image is courtesy of the good folk at The Progressive Christian Alliance, check 'em out on FaceBook)